MIDDLETOWN — A City of Middletown police dog died Tuesday despite being rushed to a veterinary hospital after collapsing during training.

The dog, Axe, and his handler, Officer Michael McDonald, were training at the Orange County Sheriff's Office K-9 Training Center in Montgomery. Police said they had just completed training Tuesday afternoon when Axe passed out and went into cardiac arrest.

Officers from multiple Orange County Departments who were at the training, as well as Middletown officers, used patrol cars to do a sort of rolling roadblock of intersections along the way, to speed the cruiser with Axe to Middletown and the Monhagen Veterinary Hospital. He was pronounced dead on arrival.

Middletown police Lt. John Ewanciw said Axe and McDonald started training academy in March and were due to graduate July 11. Axe was excelling in all aspects of the training, Ewanciw said, and had never had any problems before. Axe's collapse did not appear heat-related, he said.

In a posting to the department's Facebook page, Middletown police wrote: "Many of you have been calling because you may have heard lights and sirens for miles this afternoon. It was our officers attempting to get our newest K9 member, Axe, to his vet during a medical emergency while training. We relay to you that the efforts to regain consciousness were not successful and Axe has passed away. We are deeply saddened by this loss and thank you for your support."